Bill Hicks

Bill Hicks
Hicks at the Laff Stop in 1991
Birth name	William Melvin Hicks
Born	(1961-12-16)December 16, 1961 Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.
Died	February 26, 1994(1994-02-26) (aged 32)[1] [2] Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up television music
Years active	1978–1994
Genres	Dark comedy political satire observational comedy
Subject(s)	American culture American politics current events recreational drug use conspiracy theories
Signature
Website	billhicks.com

William Melvin Hicks (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994)^[1][2] was an American stand-up comedian and satirist. His material—encompassing a wide range of social issues including religion, politics, and philosophy—was controversial and often steeped in dark comedy.

At the age of 16, Hicks began performing at the Comedy Workshop in Houston, Texas. During the 1980s, he toured the U.S. extensively and made a number of high-profile television appearances, but he amassed a significant fan base in the UK, filling large venues during his 1991 tour.^[3] He also achieved some recognition as a guitarist and songwriter.

Hicks died of pancreatic cancer on February 26, 1994, at the age of 32. In subsequent years, his work gained significant acclaim in creative circles—particularly after a series of posthumous album releases—and he developed a substantial cult following. In 2007, he was number six on Channel 4's list of the "100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics",^[4] and rose to No. 4 on the 2010 list.^[5] In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 13 on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.^[6]